HOMEWARES FROM APRIL ELEVEN

We've just found out about this super cool homeware brand April Eleven from France.
The collection of wooden coat hooks, nightlights and mirrors would make the perfect addition to your kid's room... Pls check out their website for more great stuff!

WHAT ABOUT?

Once in a while we have a little chat with someone with a special job, an inspiring life, a remarkable character or an out of the box vision. 

This time we spoke with Mette Te Velde mother of Suki (1,5 years old)

What about her?

Photo: Anne Claire de Breij

strawberryearth.com

Name: Mette te Velde

Age: 34

Kids: 1

Business: Founder of Strawberry Earth: a design blog, events platform and deal site featuring great products and amazing experiences from sustainable brands.

So, how to be an eco-friendly mom? Any sustainable tips?

I call it 'strawberry' choices when I speak in terms of choosing the best for Suki. Why? Because of her health and future of course!

My favorites are:

- Diapers from Natty of Bambo

- Skincare and shampoo from Weleda

- Second hand clothes or new from brands like Mini Rodini, Kids Case and Gray Label of course ;-)

- Bio foods with seasonal veggies and fruit

- Toys that will live a long life and can be passed on to the next generation. At  http://www.shak-shuka.com/ you can find nice stuff

- Nature! Fresh air and most important, to let her run.

- In my garden I am going to create a little vergetable garden, so when she is a bit older she can pick her own little tomatoes. 

What’s keeping your head up during Momma-Hood?

My daughter’s laughter and enthusiasm for everything and anything.

What’s made you (almost) crazy?

The moment she had to move to her own room. It felt so unnatural to not have her right by my side.

What advice do you wish you had ignored?

That an epidural during labour is bad. It saved my life!

What advice do you wish to pass on?

Do not invite all your friends and family just after your baby is born. Really enjoy the very intimate and special moment you have with your baby and partner. You’ll never forget it.

Don’t listen to horror stories about giving birth.

Don’t take advice from 10 different people but listen to your own intuition and body during pregnancy but also if it’s about parenting.

Switch your phone off when you have your ‘mama-day’ and truly focus on your child and enjoy your quality time together!

What motivates you to go on when your dreams scare you?

Not taking any risks in life is going to be very very boring.

You learn most from failures.
Your life is not a rehearsal, it’s now. So do the thing that you want to do NOW.

Any advise for mums starting up their own businesses?

Don’t read any articles about ‘how difficult it is to combine parent ship with ambition.' You’ll find your own way of doing it.

Define your definition of success. Is it money? Is it a balanced life with time for your children? Is it to inspire people? What is success for you? Don’t let other people tell you what success is.

Create a good team around you. You can’t do everything by yourself. Dare to admit your weaker spots and find someone who’s great at it.

Ask someone you admire to be your mentor. Someone with experience who can help you grow.

Be flexible. The business plan you have written one day will not be the same after some time. It always goes different than you thought and that’s not a problem as long as you dare to go with the flow. 

THE GRAY LABEL MULTI BAG

The wait is over. Hereby we introduce our new Multi bag; a large multifunctional leather shopper. The bag comes in 3 colors, dark grey, light grey and black and can be worn in two ways: on the arm with two short handles or over the shoulder or stroller with the optional long adjustable strap. For more info pls visit our website.

NEW STYLES | NEW COLOURS

Our collection is basically always the same, but when inspiration hits the roof, new styles or colours are added. We are proud to present the new models like the Baseball Cardigan, the Hoody Dress, the Beanie, the Endless Scarf and the Ribless Sweater, amongst many other styles, as well as the new colour Blush, all to be found in our webshop as of today. 

Between you and me: in the first place I wanted these designs for myself. But then I decided that they would look better on my kids. Hope you like them!

Meet the MOOKS

Meet the Mooks from U.S. based Kimberly a.k.a. 'When Skies are Grey"

Kimberly has a shop on Etsy.com called "I Love Grey Skies" where she sells these handcrafts. They are a little quirky and obscure, yet sooo fascinating!!

The materials Kimberly uses are wood, paper mache, acrylic paint, polymer clay and felt.

You can see them all as little personalities, like below Mister Mook and his favorite lady, Mrs. Mook. 

Mrs. Mook wears a felt mink stole while the Mister dons a handsome grey bow-tie.

Kimberly also writes on her blog, about life, inspiration and work.

Mook with bear mask

Mook Love, featuring a wolf and bear

Mook with shark mask

TIMO-HANDMADE

Eastern bunny Mother, father and child. Love the pink dot dress and corduroy trousers!

TIMO is part of the EcoDesign trend. Concious consumption and manufacturing, alongside recycling, minimization of manufacturing waste and simplification of processes. The objects' design is current and classic, but the methods of manufacturing are traditional. The materials are mostly recycled, or scraps of designers' fabrics. 

Winter Plush brown baby chick doll, wearing red hood hat & dark striped shirt.

Plush Oak urban minimalist black mouse doll in dotted scarf & yellow socks.

Brown bird doll, duck or penguin with pink beak wearing mint green dotted shirt, neon hot pink pants and pale blue hat.

TIMO is a collection, a game and a source of livelihood, all taking place in Timor's own home. Also to be found on Facebook.

Become an architect with CINQPOINTS

Architecture is no longer only for the smartest. Cinqpoints offers a range of products where kids and parents can work with. Just be curious and use your imagination. 

You design, you build, you create. You have it in you!

Paper architectural model.

Only white glue, patience and cleanliness are required to assemble this model.

Look, detach, fold and glue.

Creative and intelligent, archiblocks will provide kids and parents for hours and hours of architectural creations. Shape + balance + composition + inspiration = architecture.

Set of 16 blocks.

Word search grid with architects, designers, photographers and artists' names. Gaining knowledge!

Become a very famous architect with these amazing glasses.

It has a postcard-like package with pre-cut pieces.

No glue is required (size when folded 10,5×21 cm).